Pheidole mantadioflava, Salata & Fisher, 2020

Salata, Sebastian & Fisher, Brian L., 2020, The ant genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar-taxonomic revision of the bessonii species-group, Zootaxa 4843 (1), pp. 1-64 : 38-40

Pheidole mantadioflava sp. nov.

Figs 18 A–F, 27J, 28J

HOLOTYPE: 1s., Madagascar, Toamasina, Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana , -18.80424 48.40081, 968 m, 12-Dec-2012, rainforest, ex dead bamboo above ground, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. BLF30377, CASENT0923250 ( CASC) . PARATYPES: 1w., the same data as holotype, CASENT0301826 ( CASC) .

Other material. Madagascar. Toamasina: 1w., Ambatovy , 12.4 km NE Moramanga, -18.84963 48.2947, 1010 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 2w., Ankerana , -18.4017 48.80605, 1035 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Bevolota 17.1 km N Andasibe, -18.77071 48.43164, 995 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana , -18.80388 48.40506, 1013 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana , -18.80424 48.40081, 968 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana , -18.79956 48.4028, 1058 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana , -18.80438 48.40735, 960 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambohibolakely , -18.77898 48.36375, 918 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Tsaravoniana , -18.76124 48.42134, 939 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1s., Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Tsaravoniana , -18.75737 48.42302, 1018 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 2s., F.C. Didy , -18.19833 48.57833, 960 m, H. J. Ratsirarson leg. ( CASC) ; 1w., 1q., Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , -16.76912 49.26704, 475 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) ; 2w., Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river , -16.7633 49.26692, 520 m, B. L. Fisher et al. leg. ( CASC) .

Geographic range. Madagascar, distributed in mountains and highlands between Moramanga and Antenina in Toamasina.

Diagnosis. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral margins slightly convex; side of head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; antennal scrobes present, very indistinct, and mostly punctate, with additional network of thin and sparse rugae; frons with moderately dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae smooth to indistinctly punctate; occipital lobes with very indistinct and short rugae; sculpture weakening posteriorly and posterior part mostly smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by one-fifth of its length; inner hypostomal tooth distinct and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top directed posteriorly; median tooth absent; promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, anterior mesonotum placed slightly higher than pronotum; posterior mesonotum moderately steep; mesonotal process distinct and tubercle-like; mesosoma microreticulate; promesonotal dorsum with sculpture reduced and additional transverse rugae; gaster indistinctly shagreened; body orange. Minor workers. Occiput elongated forming short and moderately narrow neck; nuchal collar distinct; head sculpture mostly smooth; frons with sparse puncta; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by three-fifths of its length; promesonotum low, long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small with wide base; mesosoma punctate; body yellow.

Description. Major workers. Measurements (n=10): HL: 1.57–1.82 (1.69); HW: 1.47–1.8 (1.65); SL: 0.95– 1.06 (1.0); EL: 0.21–0.25 (0.23); WL: 1.35–1.53 (1.47); PSL: 0.23–0.28 (0.25); MTL: 0.78–1.17 (1.06); PNW: 0.54–0.64 (0.6); PTW: 0.18–0.21 (0.2); PPW: 0.39–0.51 (0.44); CI: 98.5–107.0 (102.6); SI: 57.5–64.8 (60.7); PSLI: 13.5–16.9 (14.8); PPI: 40.1–51.3 (45.5); PNI: 32.5–37.7 (36.0); MTI: 52.9–71.3 (64.2).

Head. In full-face view sub-rectangular, not widening posteriorly, with lateral sides slightly convex ( Fig. 18B ). In lateral view sub-oval, not depressed posteriorly; ventral and dorsal margins convex; inner hypostomal tooth visible. Side of head with moderately dense, long, suberect to erect pilosity; head dorsum with relatively dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes present and very indistinct; mostly punctate with additional network of thin and sparse rugae. Frons with moderately dense and thick costulae; interspaces between costulae smooth to indistinctly punctate. Occipital lobes with very indistinct and short rugae; sculpture weakening posteriorly and posterior part mostly smooth. Gena with sparse and moderately thick costulae; interspaces between costulae smooth. Sides posterolateral from eyes with dense but very thin network of rugoreticulae; sometimes with smooth notches; sculpture weakening posteriorly. Center of clypeus shiny and smooth, lateral sides with distinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae present. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by one-fifth of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 18B, D ). Inner hypostomal tooth distinct and bulge-like; outer hypostomal tooth lobe-like, high, and wide, with top directed posteriorly; median tooth absent ( Fig. 27J ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, anterior mesonotum placed slightly higher than pronotum; posterior mesonotum moderately steep; mesonotal process distinct and tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, with narrow base and acute top; humeral tubercle weakly produced ( Fig. 18D ). Surface shiny and microreticulate; promesonotal dorsum with microreticulae reduced and additional transverse rugae. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect ( Fig. 18D, F ). Gaster. Shiny and indistinctly shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect ( Fig. 18D, F ). Color. Orange, legs and occipital lobes brighter, yellow ( Fig. 18D, F ).

Description. Minor workers. Measurements (n=10): HL: 0.78–0.84 (0.81); HW: 0.53–0.58 (0.55); SL: 0.97–1.1 (1.04); EL: 0.14–0.17 (0.15); WL: 0.99–1.11 (1.06); PSL: 0.07–0.11 (0.1); MTL: 0.83–0.96 (0.9); PNW: 0.36–0.41 (0.38); PTW: 0.08–0.11 (0.1); PPW: 0.14–0.19 (0.17); CI: 145.6–154.1 (147.6); SI: 180.7–194.6 (188.9); PSLI: 9.5–14.1 (12.2); PPI: 51.3–70.1 (62.3); PNI: 66.9–71.3 (69.4); MTI: 154.7–169.7 (164.1).

Head. In full-face view oval, posterior region elongated forming short and moderately narrow neck; nuchal collar distinct ( Fig. 18A ). Pilosity relatively sparse, long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and mostly smooth; frons with sparse puncta. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by three-fifths of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect ( Fig. 18A, C ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, long, and arched; promesonotal groove present; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular, with wide base ( Fig. 18C ). Sculpture punctate. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect ( Fig. 18C, E ). Gaster. With sparse and erect pilosity ( Fig. 18C, E ). Color. Yellow, mandibles and gaster usually darker ( Fig. 18C, E ).

Biology. The species was collected between 475–1035 m elevation, in rainforest, montane rainforest, and montane forest. Nests were located in rotten logs and sticks on the ground and dead bamboo above ground. Workers were collected from sifted litter.

Comments. Pheidole mantadioflava , known from the northeastern part of Toamasina, is most similar to P. clara , recorded from southeastern Antsiranana and the northernmost part of Toamasina. Majors of P. mantadioflava differ in the presence of antennal scrobes and anterior mesonotum placed slightly higher than pronotum. In contrast, majors of P. clara lack antennal scrobes and their anterior mesonotum is not placed higher than the pronotum. Minors of P. mantadioflava can be separated based on presence of sparse puncta on the entire surface of frons and small propodeal spines with a wide base. Minor workers of P. clara have sparse puncta restricted only to anterolateral frons, and their propodeal spines are small and thin.

Etymology. Combination of the name of the type locality and a Latin world for yellow, in reference to the body colouration.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Pheidole mantadioflava, full-face view (A), profile (C), and dorsal view (E) of paratype minor worker (CASENT0301826) and full-face view (B), profile (D), and dorsal view (F) of holotype major worker (CASENT0923250).

FIGURE 27. Major worker, hypostomal tooth. Pheidole antsahabe (A). Pheidole atsirakambiaty (B). Pheidole bessonii (C). Pheidole clara (D). Pheidole decollata (E). Pheidole flammea (F). Pheidole flavodepressa (G). Pheidole grallatrix (H). Pheidole madecassa (I). Pheidole mantadioflava (J). Pheidole maro (K). Pheidole oswaldi (L). Pheidole ovalinoda (M). Pheidole similis (N). Pheidole tenebrovulgaris (O). Pheidole uranus (P). Pheidole voreios (Q). Pheidole zirafy (R).